Before getting into the line-up for this Saturday night, just a reminder that on Sunday night, NBC will present "Grand Ole Opry: 95 Years of Country Music." Blake Shelton and Brad Paisley, who are celebrating their 10 and 20 year anniversaries as Opry members, respectively, will co-host the special, which is a retrospective of the Opry's history and features, among others, Opry members Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks Carrie Underwood, Marty Stuart, Old Crow Medicine Show, Little Big Town and Trisha Yearwood.
The special will also highlight memorable moments in the Opry's 90 year history, but will also feature Darius Rucker surprising Lady A with an invitation to join the Opry will taping their rendition of "Forever and Ever, Amen," Additionally, Kane Brown will be making his Grand Ole Opry debut.
In addition to Lady A's cover of the Randy Travis classic, Kelsea Ballerini will deliver Alison Krauss' “When You Say Nothing at All," while Dierks Bentley and newly inducted Country Music Hall of Fame member Marty Stuart unite on Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson's 1983 hit "Pancho & Lefty." Alongside the performances, the special will also showcase archival footage, interviews with Opry members and more.
“This special is going to capture so much of what makes the Opry a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience. 10-year Opry member Blake and 20-year member Brad guide us through a powerful Opry debut, an Opry membership invitation given to one of country’s most awarded vocal groups, performances of some of today’s chart-topping hits and timeless songs that have rung out from the Opry stage for decades, and a look back at cherished members of the Opry family and musical moments that have come to define the Opry we know today," Opry Vice President and Executive Producer Dan Rogers previews in a press release.
Hopefully the special will not forget those Opry members from years ago who have passed on, or the legends and veterans who are still members of the Opry today. But based on the advanced advertising for the special, I am not holding out much hope other than a quick video montage.
Grand Ole Opry: 95 Years of Country Music, which was filmed over the past several months at the Opry House, airs on Sunday, Feb. 14, at 9PM ET on NBC.
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Now looking ahead to Saturday night, once again we see Opry members Jeannie Seely and Riders In The Sky headlining the broadcast, joined this week by Opry member Steve Wariner. Guesting this week will be Charles Esten, who we used to see on the Opry numerous times while "Nashville" was on the air, comedian Henry Cho, Ashley McBryde and guitarist Tommy Emmanuel. I had to double check on Charles Esten and should note that he has guested on the Opry over 100 times.
Saturday February 13
7:00: Opry Square Dancers; Jeannie Seely; Riders In The Sky; Charles Esten; Henry Cho
8:00: Steve Wariner; Ashley McBryde; Tommy Emmanuel
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Now from 50 years ago, Saturday February 13, 1971:
1st show
6:30: Hank Locklin (host); Ernie Ashworth; Del Wood
6:45: Billy Grammer (host); Harold Weakley; Cousin Jody
7:00: Bill Monroe (host); Stu Phillips; Earl Scruggs Revue; Del Reeves
7:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Bill Carlisle; Leroy Van Dyke; Crook Brothers
8:00: Lester Flatt (host); Willis Brothers; Jim and Jesse; Peggy Little
8:30: Ernest Tubb (host); Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper; Skeeter Davis; Fruit Jar Drinkers
2nd show
9:30: Hank Locklin (host); Willis Brothers; Ernie Ashworth; Del Wood
10:00: Bill Monroe (host); Earl Scruggs Revue; Billy Grammer
10:15: Jim Ed Brown (host); Del Reeves; Stu Phillips
10:30: Lester Flatt (host); Leroy Van Dyke; Bill Carlisle
10:45: Ernest Tubb (host); Skeeter Davis; Crook Brothers
11:00: Jim and Jesse (host); Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host); Peggy Little; Claude Gray; Don Winters
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Now looking way back to 66 years ago, Saturday February 13, 1954:
7:30: Warren Paint
Roy Acuff: Sweep Around Your Back Door
Lew Childre: Southern Hospitality
Dot and Smokey: Waltz of the Wind
Howdy Forrester: Black Mountain Rag
7:45: American Ace
Roy Acuff: No One Will Ever Know
Johnny and Jack: Love Trap
Kitty Wells: Cheating is a Sin
Jimmy Riddle: Steamboat Bill
Roy Acuff: Radio Station S-A-V-E-D
Oswald: Roll Along Jordan
8:00: Martha White
Ernest Tubb: Jealous Loving Heart
Bill Monroe: Memories of Mother and Dad
Hank Snow: You Broke The Chains That Held Our Heart
June Carter: Little Too Far
Ernest Tubb: I'm With A Crowd But So Alone
Possum Hunters: Bill Cheatham
Carlisles: I Need A Little Help
Cowboy Copas: The Man Upstairs
Bill Monroe: Goodby Old Pal
Fiddle Tune: Bully of the Town
Ernest Tubb: Daisey May
8:30: Prince Albert
Jimmy Dickens: You'd Better Not Do That
Minnie Pearl: Comedy
Onie Wheeler: When We All Get Together
Square Dancers: Sally Goodin
Jimmy Dickens: Take Up Thy Cross
Moon Mullican: The Cherokee Boogie
Rod Brasfield: Comedy
Onie Wheeler: Run Em Off
String Bean: Lonesome Road Blues
Jimmy Dickens: I Just Gotta See You Once More
Fiddle Tune: Katy Hill
9:00: Royal Crown Cola
Roy Acuff: Night Train To Memphis
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Cotton Eyed Joe
George Morgan: Love, Love, Love
Jug Band: Jesse Polka
Webb Pierce: Slowly
Lonzo and Oscar: Let's Live A Little No. 2
Ray Price: Turn Your Radio On
Roy Acuff: To Be Selected
Oswald: The Nashville Blues
Howdy Forrester: Grey Eagle
9:30: Martha White
Carl Smith: What Am I Going To Do
Jimmy Dickens: Side Meat and Cabbage
Anita Carter: There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight
Crook Brothers: Mississippi Sawyer
Marty Robbins: Isle of Golden Dreams
Martha Carson: Bye and Bye
Carl Smith: Who'll Buy My Heartaches
Jimmy Dickens: Thick and Thin
Chet Atkins: Country Gentleman
Marty Robbins: It's A Long, Long Ride
Fiddle Tune: Soldiers Joy
10:00: Wallrite
George Morgan: Look What Followed Me Home
Carlisles: Tain't Nice
Bill Monroe: Don't Put Off Until Tomorrow
Blue Grass Boys: Monroe's Hornpipe
George Morgan: The First Time I Told You A Lie
10:15: Dr. Le Gear
Hank Snow: No Golden Tomorrow Ahead
Ray Price: You Always Get By
Tommy Vaden: Leather Britches
Cowboy Copas: A Heartbreak Ago
Hank Snow: Within This Broken Heart of Mine
10:30: Jefferson Island Salt
Ernest Tubb: I'm Not Looking For An Angel
Jimmy Dickens: You All Come
Marty Robbins: Don't Make Me Ashamed
Mother Maybelle: You Are My Flower
Moon Mullican: You Don't Have To Be a Baby To Cry
Ernest Tubb: Remember Me, I'm The One Who Loves You
Jordanaires: Tattler's Wagon
Chet Atkins: Little Old Lady
Jimmy Dickens: What About You
Fiddle Tune: Ricketts Hornpipe
11:00: O-Cello-O
Roy Acuff: Freight Train Blues
Martha Carson: I'm Gonna Walk and Talk With My Lord
Bobby Hebb: Mr. Spoons
Gang: Where The Soul of Man Never Dies
Howdy Forrester: Bill Cheatham
11:15: Hester Battery
Carl Smith: Doggone It Baby I'm In Love
Johnny and Jack: Cheated Out of Love
String Bean: Free A Little Bird
Gully Jumpers: Tennessee Wagoner
Carl Smith: The Orchid Means Goodby
11:30: W.E. Stephens
Hank Snow: Wasted Love
Lew Childre: Snow White Horse
Lonza and Oscar: It Can't Be Done
Crook Brothers: Alabama Gal
Hank Snow: Act I, Act II, Act III
11:45: Mathewson Chemical Co.
Webb Pierce: You Just Can't Be True
Sam and Kirk McGee: Waiting For A Letter
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Fire In The Mountain
Ken Marvin; When I Stop Loving You
Webb Pierce: It's Been So Long
A note about Ken Marvin (Lloyd George), who you might remember as as the original Lonzo, who partnered up with Rollin Sullivan to form "Lonzo and Oscar and Winston County Pea Pickers." They were originally a part of Eddy Arnold's road show, and appeared with Eddy in the mid 1940s. In 1947, Eddy let the duo go and they were signed by Steve Sholes to RCA Victor and he helped to get them on the Grand Ole Opry. Later recording on Capital Records, Lonzo and Oscar had success with a number of songs. In January 1950, Lonzo (Ken Marvin) decided to quit the act, as he was tired of the comedy and wanted to make serious country music. He was replaced by Johnny Sullivan.
Meanwhile, Ken Marvin continued recording throughout the 1950s; he released many songs on the Capitol, Mercury, RCA Victor, Intro, Todd, and Briar labels. In the 1960s, he changed his stage name from Ken Marvin to his real name, Lloyd George, where he released songs on Imperial Records. Ken Marvin's best known song is "Uh-Huh Honey", which nearly became a hit. He was also a disc jockey on WSKY in Asheville, North Carolina, in 1956. After Lloyd quit making records, later in his life, he started booking shows for Bill Monroe.
Ken Marvin passed away in October 1991.
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There you have it for this week. As always thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday night and if you so wish, will tune into the NBC special on Sunday night.
Thanks as always for the info!
ReplyDeleteA note or two about that great 1954 lineup: George Morgan's number "Look What Followed Me Home" was co-written by a Thin Man from West Plains, Missouri. And really interesting to see Onie Wheeler as a guest on the Prince Albert portion long before he worked for Mr. Acuff. As I recall, he was with him off and on for close to 20 years.
And there you have what made the Opry ---- a 5 hour show of various and a sundried acts with an occasional popular star at the time ---- that's what gave the Opry it's charm -- the diversity and folkiness of the acts ---- I guess that doesn't play anymore --- but it's what attracted me to the Opry when I fell in love with it 60 + years ago --- I'm not a flat earther except when it concerns the Opry --- I guess progress is inevitable --- but it as painful for us oldtimers --- Dashmann, Flushing, Michigan ---
DeleteDashmann, a wise philosopher named Robert McKimson once said, "Sometimes you progress in the wrong direction." He was actually one of the great Warner Bros. cartoon directors, and he was responsible for, among others, the Tasmanian Devil and Foghorn Leghorn. He was talking about the fact that the cartoons became subtler--think of Bugs Bunny just raising an eyebrow--while he liked the Foghorn type of character who waved his arms and made a lot of noise.
DeleteSo it isn't ALWAYS progress. I do understand it, though. I bet a lot of people now couldn't sit through a five-hour Opry show, or even that easily through the 2:30 show if their one favorite act wasn't on the whole time. And of course a big part of it is that the Opry wasn't meant to be a big moneymaker originally, and now it is.
Onie Wheeler was a great entertainer, songwriter and recording star long before his Smoky Mountain Boy days. I have never fully understood why his solo career did not take off prior to Acuff. Lefty Frizzell recorded “Run Em Off” and it became a top ten for him.
ReplyDeleteI am on the fence about the 95th special. My expectation is disappointment.
ReplyDeleteIf past network Opry anniversary specials are any indication, the focus will be on the younger and currently popular members with everyone featured in some sort of montage.
Delete"Grand Ole Opry: 95 Years of Country Music" airs Sunday at 8 p.m. CST on NBC. Paisley and Shelton host the program, which features performances from Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Marty Stuart, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Kane Brown, Old Crow Medicine Show, Darius Rucker, Lady A, Little Big Town, Carrie Underwood and the aforementioned hosts."
DeleteIn other words, the 'Opry will celebrate 95 years with a group of entertainers who get emotional while talking about how great the 'Opry is and how much it means to them, but by and large pretty much seldom or never bother to appear on the actual show.
Carrie Underwood is the one NOTABLE exception, and she is one of my heroes.
I'd add Marty since he has usually had a good record on doing the Opry, but I agree completely.
DeleteOne of my favorite nights ever was when, after the 60th anniversary special aired, the Statlers did the TV portion, hosted by Porter. They did their song and got an enormous ovation, and then Don Reid said something like this: "We appreciate it. But remember we're here as guests. The real heroes of the Opry are the members who are here each week. And we think when network television comes to do a special about the Opry, it should feature those like Porter Wagoner and Hank Snow who are always here." That got a BIGGER ovation.
On that special, Porter's contribution was narrating a segment about Opryland. Mr. Snow's portion was to consist of a verse and chorus of "Movin' On," and he apparently suggested where they could locate their television set.
And I don't recall seeing the Statlers on the Opry ever again.
That's right Michael, although it runs in my mind that Marty hasn't done as much lately.
DeleteBut I should have included him.
Great memory Michael. You pretty much stated what Don Reid said. I recall he mentioned a couple more artists, one was Mr. Acuff. I have most of those two appearances by the Statlers on tape from that night and I remember Grant Turner being enthusiastic and said the atmosphere backstage was the same. They were all happy to have the Statlers in the house and I'll bet Harold kept them in stitches!
DeleteAs John R Cash said in an early song "I don't like it but I guess things Happen that way". To me those TV shows put the Opry name out there but again, they give a false impression of who you will randomly see when you go. However, they are getting closer to at least being accurate in the music you'll hear even if not the actual artist!
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Jim, I have to say I thought the 60th was better than a couple of the others, and included a Hank Williams salute that included most of the male Opry members who we would call "old-timers"--plus Jimmy C. got to close it with "Jambalaya." But I stood and applauded when Don said that.
DeleteWho do you guys see going into the Hall of Fame this year?.
ReplyDeleteWho do you guys see going into the Hall of Fame this year in 2021?.
ReplyDeleteAs I'm listening to a Wilburn Brohters TV show from the early 70's, Jeanne Pruett is on. I didn't mention this last week and maybe everyone recalls this. Rhonda mentioned Jeanne and you will recall that when she retired about what, maybe 18 years ago, she suggested that Rhonda become a member to fill her spot. Took a while but at least she got to she her wish come true!
ReplyDeleteJim
Who do you guys see going into the Hall of Fame this year?.
ReplyDelete